About Australian Athletics

Australian Athletics (AA) is the governing body for Athletics in this country. It is a National Sporting Organisation whose major partner is the Australian Sports Commission. AA is responsible for athletics, including high performance, participation, coaching, officiating, juniors, para-athletics, domestic and international competition. Australian Athletics has a critical role in leading, fostering and encouraging participation in athletics in Australia and promoting excellence in performance.

Australian Athletics is searching for a dynamic leader to take the reins as our Head of Media & Communications (Full-Time, 13-month parental leave cover). This is a rare chance to shape the voice of our sport on the road to the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

About the Role:

The Head of Media & Communications is accountable for developing and executing a media and communications strategy for Australian Athletics (AA) that focuses on positively positioning the organisation in all aspects of media, communications and PR activity, across owned, earned, and stakeholder channels. 

Your core duties will include:

• Develop and execute comprehensive media and communications strategies across traditional and digital platforms to maximise sport and athlete coverage. 
• Create targeted strategies to recruit new audiences, particularly recreational running communities and sports adjacent fans. 
• Lead crisis communication planning, response protocols, and reputation management for Australian Athletics. 
• Build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders across sport, government, media, and running communities. 
• Lead, develop, and upskill the communications team to deliver high-quality content aligned with organisational strategy.

What we are looking for: 

An experienced media, communications, or PR professional with a proven track record in shaping brand reputation and delivering high-quality content, ideally within a sporting environment. You demonstrate significant understanding of the sporting landscape coupled with innovative and creative thinking to deliver accurate and timely media content and communications.

You thrive under pressure, managing crisis communications with confidence while meeting deadlines in fast-paced environments. Strong stakeholder management, attention to detail, and the ability to deliver engaging, multi-platform content are at the core of your skill set.

We’re looking for someone who can grow and diversify audiences, from recreational runners to broader fitness and sports communities while positioning Australian Athletics as a thought leader in the industry. Experience developing media and communication strategies, leading campaigns, partnerships and corporate communications and driving digital engagement will be highly regarded.

Ideally you will have:

• Tertiary qualifications in communications, PR, marketing, or other relevant disciplines. 
• Demonstrate passion for athletics and strong understanding of the Australian sports media landscape. 
• Strong background in developing and implementing effective media, PR, and communication strategies that deliver measurable outcomes. 
• Proven ability to collaborate with broadcast production teams and broadcasters to manage event coverage and content.  
• Strong background in leading social media strategy and execution across multiple platforms. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with exceptional attention to detail. 
• A keen commitment to clean sport and abiding by AA's National Integrity Framework suite of policies including the Australian National Anti-doping Policy, Safeguarding Children and Young Persons Policy, and Code of Conduct. 
• Hold and maintain a valid Working with Children Check and (or ability to hold) Police Check.

Why Work for us?

Australian Athletics has a range of benefits to support a sustainable work-life balance that align to our Values and Behaviours, enabling you to bring your best self to work, no matter your role and stage in life. All employees have access to a range of benefits including:

• Paid Parental Leave
• Diversity Leave
• Purchase Leave
• Mental Health Leave

At Australian Athletics, we offer career opportunities for people who share our ambition and passion for sport. From graduates to expert professionals, we are committed to offering fulfilling careers and the chance to grow as we grow. We would love you to be part of our journey. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and people from every culture, gender and sexual identity, age, and ethnic background. Persons with a disability or lived experience with disability who have the requisite skills are strongly encouraged to apply